What can I say? The Mammoth Minarets is my favorite area to go hiking, climbing, and photograph—hands down. This was a cross-country route that linked two trails together; the Minaret Lake Trail and Shadow Creek Trail. The Mammoth Mountains Ski resort's $7.00 shuttle ride to and from Mammoth Mountain Ski resort is a convenient bargain in that it eliminates the gap between the starting and ending points; Devils Postpile Trailhead and Agnew Meadows. I squeezed this other wise 4 day trip into 2 days upon short notice of the Devils Postpile opening about 3 days before my wife notified me that I would be spending another weekend by myself while she visit family in Arizona.

What one must get over to make it to Cecil Lake from Iceberg Lake from a series of maintained trails that end in this picture.

The trail descends as you start to drop about what will be 500ft in elevation in a little over 1-mile to get down to Ediza Lake.

Iceberg creek just below Iceberg Lake.

They've done some serious improvements on this trail since I was last on it some 13 years ago.

Mount Ritter and Banner Peak are nice sights along the horizon as you descend from Iceberg Lake to Ediza Lake.

Some polished roots along the trail descending from Iceberge Lake to Ediza Lake.

A slight climb before the trail starts to head downhill for Ediza Lake.

One last look at the Mammoth Minarets before they vanish for the most part until you get to Ediza Lake.

Patches of snow still cling to the terrain in this area on a snow pack that was about 40% of normal. "Yes, this area gets an abundance of snow, even on years like this one.”

Ediza Lake about a 1/2 mile and 250ft below.

Mount Ritter, Banner Peak, and Ediza Lake.

As the terrain levels out towards Ediza Lake, the Mammoth Minarets come back into view.

A abundance of young trees as seen in a group here about 1,000ft from Ediza Lake.

Ediza Lake

Comming into the beginning of the Shadow Creek Trail.

From the end of the Shadow Creek Trail; to the left, the un-named 1-mile trail that takes you to Iceberg Lake, and to the right, the 1/2-mile trail that takes you to the general campsites to the west of Ediza Lake.

The Mammoth Minarets as seen from the SE end of Ediza Lake.

I take a nice rest in an area that should otherwise be plagued with mosquitoes, but thanks to a fairly windy day, my last day on this trip is a little nicer than the previous two.

Ediza Lake has a very pleasant look and feel on its south and eastern shores--that's why camping is forbid on these sides of the lake.

Ediza Lake has a very pleasant look and feel on its south and eastern shores--that's why camping is forbid on these sides of the lake.

Ediza Lake has a very pleasant look and feel on its south and eastern shores--that's why camping is forbid on these sides of the lake.

They never said anything about taking a nice long rest on this side of the lake.

Ediza Lake has a very pleasant look and feel on its south and eastern shores--that's why camping is forbid on these sides of the lake.

Shadow Creek starts to descend from Ediza Lake.

Where the Shadow Creek Trail crosses Shadow Creek.

Shadow Creek snakes it's way down the hill from Ediza Lake as it finds it's way towards Shadow Lake.

Shadow creek is a constant beautiful sight as you make your way down the Shadow Creek Trail from Ediza Lake to Shadow Lake.

Shadow Lake comes into view in the far distance.

Shadow Creek above Shadow Lake.

Shadow Creek above Shadow Lake.

The first of many nice Junipers along the Shadow Creek trail until you get to the River Trail. This one is uniquely-shaped and near the ½-way point between Ediza Lake and Shadow Lake right near the trail—way cool.

The first of many nice Junipers along the Shadow Creek trail until you get to the River Trail. This one is uniquely-shaped and near the ½-way point between Ediza Lake and Shadow Lake right near the trail—way cool.

Some iron oxidation along the Shadow Creek Trail near the west end of Shadow Lake.

Water from the Shadow Creek Trail rushes into Shadow Lake.

Shadow Lake

Looking back towards the west end of Shadow Lake from the NE shore, it's obvious that this end of the lake is very shallow.

I guess this is the best picture to reason as to why they call it the Shadow Creek Trail. There are a lot of trees that shade the trail between Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake.

Looking west you can see that the water in Shadow Lake has a beautiful turquoise tint to it.

Looking SE you can see that the water in Shadow Lake has a beautiful turquoise tint to it.

Shadow Lake; Volcanic Ridge, part of the Mammoth Minarets, Mount Ritter, and Banner Peak off in the distance.

Shadow creek starts a very rapid descent downhill as it leaves Shadow Lake, as does the trail which has many switchbacks and subtle cliffs. However, they're nothing like those found on the High Sierra Trail between Crescent Meadows and the Kaweah Gap.

Shadow Creek has carved out a deep descending river gorge over thousands of years as seen here just below Shadow Lake.

The Shadow Creek trail has seemed to become a fan-favorite for day hikers. However, this group of about 50 Japanese hikers came as a surprise to me when I met up with them at the east end of Ediza Lake. I was sure to minimize my picture taking and turn on the afterburners and leave their party in the dust once I got to a section where most of them were resting just above where the trail crosses the middle fork. I kept thinking about how much I just wanted to get back to Fresno in a reasonable time. I didn't want to have to wait for a 2nd or 3rd bus with this group's size...lol.

Some wild looking rocks with a striated quality are found along the Shadow Creek Trail where it descends from Shadow Lake. The rocks in this area are so wild, that's what makes this area unlike any that I know of in the High Sierras.

The perceived location of the middle fork of the San Joaquin River comes into view as you descend the Shadow Creek Trail below Shadow Lake.